Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(21)

“Something designed to make us easier to kill,” Thrawn said, his voice going grim. “A diversionary attack from in front, with a simultaneous attack from behind. You will note where the first two shots were aimed.”

Anakin looked at the bar. Right where he’d been standing were two fresh blaster burns. “I guess I should thank you for pushing me out of the way.”

Thrawn half turned, a frown on his face. “That was not my intent,” he said. “Such gases are designed to flow downward toward their victims. I therefore used you and the bar to leap upward out of its effect. I assumed you would follow.”

“Yeah, I was a little busy being shoved to the side,” Anakin growled. A movement on the far side of the bar caught his eye, and he leaned over the wood to look.

The bartender was back there, asleep on the floor. His arms were crossed over his stomach, his hands bound together with thin rope. “Looks like he didn’t know it was coming.”

“Or else simply didn’t move back sufficiently far to avoid the effects.” Thrawn paused. “You are a Jedi, then?”

“I’d have thought that was obvious.”

“Not at all,” Thrawn assured him. “Our myths of the Republic speak of two groups of beings with such powers: the Jedi, and the Sith. But the Sith are reputed to be clever and capable warriors. Tell me, do you recognize any of our attackers?”

Anakin turned back to the bodies on the floor, resisting the awful urge to lift Thrawn out of his chair and dangle him over the bar while he explained the true difference between Jedi and Sith.

But for all the Chiss’s sarcasm, Anakin had to privately admit the implied accusation wasn’t wrong. Focused on dragging the truth about Padmé out of the bartender, he’d gotten unforgivably sloppy. He should have expected a layered attack and been ready for it.

As to the bodies on the floor…“I don’t think I’ve seen any of them before,” he said, eyeing the three humans and one olive-skinned, amphibious Rybet. “Why, do you think I should?”

“I thought it possible,” Thrawn said. “Three points. First: The placement of their initial shots prove they intended your death. That argues against a goal of forcing you to unlock the ambassador’s ship. Second: The layered two-prong attack indicates they have knowledge of how to attack a Jedi. Third: The fact that only four of those who were following us attacked while the fifth remained outside suggests these four attackers were considered expendable by their comrade.”

“Or else the fifth had been ordered to report to someone else and needed to stay free and clear to do that.”

“Indeed,” Thrawn agreed. “In which case, he now faces a dilemma.”

“Yes, I see,” Anakin murmured, looking again at the door. “I assume you locked us in?”

“Yes, and have confirmed that the window coverings were secure,” Thrawn said. “No one can see inside.”

“So our fifth man knows that at least one of us is still alive,” Anakin continued. “Only he doesn’t know which one. And he knows that all four of his friends are dead, or else they would have come out by now.”

“Or possibly are taken alive,” Thrawn said. “That may be his greatest fear.”

“Yeah.” Anakin looked at the bodies again. “Too bad we couldn’t have managed that.”

“In combat, quick decisions must be made,” Thrawn said. “Added to his concerns is the Jedi fighter craft now resting nearby. He has many questions, but no answers.”

“And he won’t want to leave without them,” Anakin said slowly, thinking it through. “So he has to be still waiting out there, either mixing with the rest of the citizens or lurking at the edge with comm in hand ready to call his boss.”

“Which we must prevent.”

Anakin cocked an eyebrow. “We don’t want him talking to his boss?”

“We don’t want them speaking via comm,” Thrawn corrected.

“Ah,” Anakin said, nodding understanding. “We want him to go there in person.”

“Exactly,” Thrawn said. “I presume your fighter has jamming capability?”

“Yes, and Artoo can switch it on from here.” He gestured to the droid. “Go ahead.”

R2-D2 warbled acknowledgment. “Jamming is on,” Anakin said. “So how do we follow him?”

“Let us first design the story he will return with,” Thrawn said. “Since their attack was layered toward Jedi, I suggest we present you as having been injured or killed. I’ll carry you to your fighter, place you inside, and allow your droid to fly you away. Once we determine which of the onlookers is our quarry, I can follow him to his residence or vehicle, allow him to deliver his message, then capture him. An interrogation, plus an examination of his equipment, should yield the data we seek.”

Anakin pursed his lips. That assumed, of course, that this whole scenario was connected with Padmé’s disappearance and wasn’t just someone’s crazed vendetta against Jedi. So far, they hadn’t proven that.

But at the moment this was the only lead he had. He had to follow it, and trust in the Force to guide him to his wife.

“One problem,” he said. “Playing dead with you carrying me leaves me in a position where I can’t easily react or fight back. What if he decides to take another shot at me, just to make sure?”